How to Match Your Lipstick With Your Clothes

My Current Boutique blog often feature ways to elevate your wardrobe through gorgeous accessories, stunning clothing pieces, and a confident attitude. In this article, I'm giving you an additional layer to make your outfits even more stunning and polished: makeup. In particular, I'm focusing on lipstick, which is the finishing touch of any outfit. In this blog, you’ll learn how to choose the perfect lipstick for your skin tone and your wardrobe to give you a little extra pizazz and style.

Match your lipstick to your skin tone.

The first step is to find a lipstick that works well with your skin tone. Some lipstick shades will make your face pop, while others can wash you out. I recommend first getting an idea of which sorts of colors best suit your face’s unique tone and features.

Some lipsticks look good on all skin tones, and there are others that better accentuate some skin tones than others. Next time you’re in a makeup store, have someone help you find a color that best suits your complexion! Makeup professionals can give you an idea of which shades will help accentuate your skin, hair, and eye colors. Learn more about matching your lipstick and skin tone with this Byrdie article.

Tip: According to a segment on the show “The Doctors,” the lipstick shade that most naturally matches your coloring will be the same color as your nipples. A lot of people have agreed that this beauty tip is helpful for matching, so try it out!

Match your lipstick to your outfit.

Once you have an idea of the shades that work best with your skin tone, now you can start thinking about finding colors that will also match the outfit you’re wearing that day. There are a lot of different opinions out there about how to match your lipstick to your shirt or dress. If you’re wearing red or pink, some makeup artists recommend wearing an almost-identical shade of lipstick as your outfit, while others recommend complementary shades. I tend to think that lipstick should be in the same color palette as your outfit but not match exactly, creating a monochromatic look that’s sleek and put-together.

Another rule of thumb is to have your makeup be the opposite “feel” of your clothing. So, if you have a more muted or neutral outfit, you can play around with your makeup to make it bolder. If you’re wearing a loud outfit like animal prints, you might want to try out more natural makeup. Think of your makeup as a balance to your ensemble.

In the final section of this article, I give you a list of lipstick and outfit pairings to help you get started with color matching. So keep reading!

Match your lipstick to your accessories.

It’s hard to pair lipstick with your entire outfit, particularly if the outfit has a bold color or a lot of colors. Even the most skilled stylists can’t always match makeup and outfits well. So, what they do instead is match lipstick to the accessories. This creates a polished, coordinated outfit without overdoing it on a single color. Focusing on matching your makeup with accessories rather than an entire article of clothing is a lot easier, and you have more room to experiment with different lipstick tones and makeup looks to find your perfect style.   

Work the lip and the eye.

Just like most outfits, your makeup should usually have one and only “statement” piece. That means, in general, if you have a bold lip, you want more understated eyeshadow and blush. If you have a nude or light pink lipstick, you can play around with colored eyeshadows.

Pairing bold lipstick and bold eyeshadow is doable, but it can be hard to pull off unless you’re skilled at putting together a full-face makeup look. So, when in doubt, keep your makeup minimalist with just one bold accent, whether it be the lip or the eye.

Try out the power lip.

If you’re feeling feisty or courageous, there’s nothing quite as gorgeous and fun as the power lip. A bold red or hot pink lipstick can instantly boost your confidence. (That’s why it’s called the “power lip”!) The power lip pushes away from the more “natural” style, but it’s a great way to create a statement with your makeup. With a bold lip on, you’re bound to compliment yourself every time you pass a mirror.     

Learn how to rock bold lipstick like an A-lister here.  

Pick one feature to accentuate.

It’s not just about the lipstick. Eyeshadow, blush, and accessories also play a role in the overall look of your outfit. If you have large eyes, playing around with eyeshadow might be the right approach. If you’ve got an expressive pout, then lipstick might be your go-to. If you love wearing bold outfits like animal prints, you might choose natural makeup with dainty accessories.

A good rule to live by is to focus on one facial feature at a time. Accentuating one area will help you draw attention while keeping the entire look more polished and cohesive. (Focusing on one feature at a time is also a lot easier, especially if you’re new to coordinating your outfits, accessories, and makeup.)

Check out these lipstick and outfit color pairings.

White

If the majority of your outfit is white, you have a little more freedom to play around with your makeup. You can go with a power red lip to draw attention, a colored lipstick for a bold and artistic look, or a nude or peach for a more elegant look. For nighttime looks, a darker red lip looks beautiful with white dresses, but for summer days a peach or pale nude will brighten up your face. Play around with your lipstick and eyeshadow to find a style that you feel most comfortable and confident in.

Black

Like white, black is a gorgeous blank palette that opens the possibilities for your makeup. Black is easy to pair with just about any shade of lipstick, from your favorite go-to neutral to a vibrant hot pink to a sexy red or a playful peach. For a more elegant look, choose a matte nude or soft lip gloss. For something more fun, try out a colored lipstick like plum or purple. The makeup world is your oyster when it comes to black outfits, so feel free to get creative and try something new!

When women are looking for a glow-up inside and out, I usually tell them to add a pop of color to their outfit—whether that’s through their clothing, accessories, or makeup. If you have an all-black wardrobe, playing around with fun colored makeup is a great way to confidently start trying out new looks and styles.

Red

At first glance, red can feel like the hardest color to match with your makeup. But surprisingly, red goes beautifully with most shades of lipstick! If you want to keep the attention on your outfit, brown or nude lips can maintain a natural look. If you look best in lighter-colored lipsticks, peach and pale pink can help accentuate your face against the red. If you want to go bold, a red lip with a red outfit can be stunningly stylish. (If you’re going the red-on-red route, though, make sure you match the bold reds as closely as possible. Otherwise, keep the lip color to a soft nude or pink.) Try out different shades to see which look best with your skin tone and the red you’ve chosen to wear.

Pink

When pairing lipstick with a pink outfit, you want to keep your lip in the pink or nude family. Try to match the pink exactly or keep it in the same palette, a few shades lighter or darker. I also love the look of transparent lip glosses with a pink outfit. Stay away from red or colored lipstick, which can be hard to match well with pink.

Blue

Since blue and orange are complementary colors on the color wheel, pairing an orange lipstick with a blue outfit will create a strikingly gorgeous contrast. A soft-matte orange lipstick paired with a blue dress will make you look like a walking artistic masterpiece!

If you don’t want to wear orange lipstick, consider pink with hints of orange in it, like coral. Most deep-colored blue outfits look beautiful with soft baby pink or peach lip. This creates a subtle contrast that can elegantly draw the eye.

Green

Green is an uncommon color to wear, so you’ll probably want the green dress or top to do most of the talking. For most green outfits, I recommend a soft, warm red or a nude shade on the lip. I also adore the look of an emerald dress with soft sage lipstick if you’re willing to try out the green-on-green getup for a polished, earthy look that is sure to turn some heads.

Yellow

Yellow is bright and vibrant, and there are two main ways you can match it. If you’re wearing bright yellow, brown or nude lipstick will create a cohesive look without getting too bold. But if you want to jump all-in with a stunningly effervescent outfit, a red power lip in magenta, maroon, or fuchsia paired with a cheerful yellow dress is just the brighten any room you walk into.  

How do you match?

Like anything, it takes time to learn how to coordinate an entire outfit of clothes, accessories, shoes, makeup, and even hair! But a simple swipe of lipstick can elevate your outfit and make you look instantly polished and put-together, no matter where you’re going.

What are your pro beauty tips for matching lipstick with your clothes? Share this article, tag us, and tell us your life hacks and secrets!